S0209: Owning Complications: Evolving Culture with Dr. Sunil Geevarghese

In this week’s episode of The Intentional Surgeon, Drs. Sharon L. Stein and Sunil Geevarghese dive into the emotional aftermath of surgical complications, questioning whether we prioritize learning or healing after a complication. They explore the pressure to present cases at M&M conferences before true recovery can occur, the emotional toll this tradition carries, and the need to rethink how surgical culture supports accountability and growth. Dr. Geevarghese makes a powerful case for evolving M&M structures by amplifying diverse voices and honoring surgical traditions without being trapped by them.

About Dr. Sunil Geevarghese: Dr. Geevarghese is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where he completed his general surgery residency under Dr. John Tarpley and later pursued fellowship training in multiorgan transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery at UCLA under Dr. Ronald W. Busuttil. The son of distinguished educators, he has focused his career on surgical education, developing the Educational Time-Out method, founding the Vanderbilt Resilience Rapid Response Team, and contributing to peer support initiatives across major surgical societies. A sought-after educator and national lecturer on surgical wellness and moral injury, he currently serves as the Vice Chair for Education in the Section of Surgical Sciences at Vanderbilt, advocating for excellence across all surgical training programs.